Adjustable height tables with telescoping supports



June 4, 1957 R. G. HEAL ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT TABLES WITH 'IELESCOPING SUPPORTS Filed Jan. 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l by VENTD R XMX. M 20%,

4770 RIVEYS June 4 1957 R. e. HEAL 2,

ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT TABLES WITH TELESCOPING SUPPORTS Filed Jan. 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZIVI/ENTOR A3 w/JD at 7AM JO W/aZnp firm aways United States Fatent ADJUSTABLE EEGHT TABLES WITH TELESCGPTNG SUPPORTS Robert Garnett Heal, St. Margarets on Thames, England, assignor to Staples and Company Limited, London, England Application January 10, 1955, Serial No. 480,911

Claims priority, application Great Britain January 21, 1954 8 Claims. (Cl. 311-40) This invention relates to tables and has for an object to provide a table which is adaptable for various purposes such for example for use as a bed table or an occasional table which can be moved into position over the knees of the user while seated, and in the case of an arm chair, may pass between the arms of the chair.

According to this invention a table comprises two separately formed tubular elements each constructed froma tube bent into U formation and having the extremities of its limbs bent to lie in a plane extending transversely to the plane containing the remaining looped part of the. element the limbs of, one tubular portion being arranged telescopically to engage the limbs of the other tubular portion, clamping or gripping means arranged to secure the telescopically engaging limbs against relative movement in a required position and a table top secured to: the looped part of one of said tubular elements.

The width across the looped part of one of the tubular elements is arranged to be less than the smallest distance apart of the front legs of the chair with which the table is likely to be used. With such an arrangement the two tubular elements are so assembled that looped portions are arranged immediately one above the other and in between the upright'portions of the limbs of the tubular elements and the table top extends over the lap of. the

user.

In the case where the table is arranged for use with an.

armchair, the width across the table top is arranged to be less than thesmallestdistance apart of the arms of the chair with which the table is likely to be used. Also the side limbs of'the loop may converge towards the closed end of the loop soastoassist in the insertion of the loop between the legs of. the chair.

The width across the looped part of the element to which the table issecured maybe less than the width of the table top The width ofthetabletopmaybe arranged to diminish as it extends towards theclosed end of the looped part of the'tubular'element to which it is attached thereby facilitating its introduction between the arms of the armchair.

In one construction. according to the invention the tubular element to which is attached the table top is of smaller diameter than, and slides in the limbs of, the othertubular element;

In such an arrangement the clamping means associated with the interengaging parts of the element may comprise the row of holes spaced apart along the length of the outer tubular element and a lever arm pivoted within the other tubular element and having at one end a latch extending past the end of the smaller tubular element or through a hole in that element and engageable with any of the holes in the larger outer tubular element and which lever arm is provided at the other end with a press button extending through a hole in the smaller tubular part and spring means associated with the lever arm tending to maintain the latch in its outermost position.

Preferably the lever arm is pivoted intermediate of its ends and is of such a length that the press button is located near the bend between the looped part and the Iother part of the element to which the table top is attached,

A lever arm may be pivoted in a mounting which is inserted in the smaller tubular element and fixed in position as by brazing or Welding.

The following is a more detailed description of one form of table according to the invention reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table;

Figure 2 is a plan view;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section through the telescopically engaging parts of the aforesaid-tubular elements showing the locking means;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the clamping unit;

Figures 6 to 11 are similar sectional views to Figure 4 showing alternative forms of 'fastenings for the telescopic parts.

The supporting structure for the table top 10 comprises two separately formed tubular elements, one of the elements is provided with a looped portion 11 arranged to rest on the floor and which is U shaped in configuration and has the extremities 12 of its limbs bent upwardly. The other tubular element is formed from a tube of smaller diameter and is also bent to provide a looped portion 13, the limbs of which are bent downwardly at 14 and are arranged telescopically to engage the upwardly extending limbs 12. The table top 10 is secured to the looped portion 13 by a number of cleats 9 which extend across the tube and are secured to the table top by suitable screws.

As will be seen from Figure 2 the side edges 15 of the table converge as they extend towards the closed end of the loop 13 and at their smaller end the corners are rounded. at 16, the dimensions being so chosen that the table can be inserted between the arms of the smallest armchair with which the table is likely to be used.

The limbsof the loop 11 which rest on the floor are arranged to converge as they extend towards the closed end of the loop' and the width across them is so selected that the loop may be introduced between the front legs of the smallest chair with which the table is likely to be used. The transverse portions of the loop 11 may be filled with a heavy substance for example, concrete, which may be poured in and allowed to set thus improving the stability of the table.

The overall height of the table can be adjusted by sliding the limbs 14 into or out of the limbs 12 and they may be held in the adjusted position by latch mechanism best seen in Figures 4 and 5.

Each latch mechanism comprises a lever arm 19 pivotally attached to a mounting 20 which is inserted in the limb 14 of the smaller tubular element and brazed or welded in position. The lever arm is provided at its lower end with a latch 21. which may project outwardly from the end of the limb 14 and be engageable with any of a number of holes 22 formed in the outer tubular element 12. The lever arm is pivoted at 23 intermediate of its end, and its upper end is twisted at 24 so that the plane of its extremity is at right angles to the plane of the remaining part of the lever arm. The upper end of each lever arm is arranged opposite a hole in the smaller tubular element arranged comparatively olose to the bend adjoining the loop portion 13. A button 26 having a flanged end 27 is arranged in said hole with flange innermost and opposite the twisted end 24 of the lever arm 19.

One end 31 of a wire spring is secured by rivets 32 to the lever arm while the other end 34 bears against the inner side of the limb 14.

As best seen in Figure the mounting for each lever arm comprises two metal strips 35 disposed on either side thereof, washers 36 being disposed between the lever arm and the strips and the pivotpin 37 may be. in the form of a rivet which extends through holes in i the" strips through the washers and through a hole in the lever arm. The ends of the metal strips are bent back upon themselves as indicated in 38 and the bends 39 between these portions and the main portions of the strip are so shaped and dimensioned that the assemblage can be inserted within the inner tube 14 and then held in position by brazing or welding. It will be appreciated however that other forms of clamping mechanism may be provided for example as shown in Figures 6 to 11.

In Figure 6 each inner tubular limb 14 is provided, along that part thereof which slides in the outer tubular limb 12, with a number of spaced holes 40 which extend through opposite walls of the tube and the outer tubular limb is provided near its upper limb with a hole 41, the axis of which lies in the general plane of the U shaped llimbs. This latter hole may be brought into register with any of the other holes by extending or contracting the telescopic parts and when in register a retaining peg 42 is passed through the holes. The peg is provided with a suitable head 43.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 7 the upper end of each outer tubular limb 12 has secured to it a boss 44 having an internally threaded bore which registers with a hole in the limb and is engaged by a clamping screw 45 having an enlarged manipulating knob 46. The end of the screw is arranged to press against the wall of the tube which may be plain or may be provided with a series of recesses. Again in this instance the axis of the screw and bore lie in the plane of the U and the manipulating knob lies on the inner side of the limb.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 8 the upper end of each limb 12 is provided with an internal conical socket 47 which is engaged by a resilient conical wedging member 48 having a bore through which extends the limb 14, which member is provided with an enlarged head 49. The wedging member may be slotted to increase its resilience. In forcing the wedging member into the conical socket it contracts and grips the limb 14.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 9 the upper end of eachrlimb 12 is formed with a number of longitudinal slots 50 and is provided with an externally threaded tapering portion 51 which is engaged by a tapering threaded boreofa nut portion 52 through which the limb 14 extends and which nut portion has an enlarged head 53. -Thus by tightening the nut the .slotted portion of the limb 12 is contracted onto the limb 14. a

In the arrangement shown in Figure a rubber grummet 54 is clamped against a plate .61 by a screw 62 whichbears against a washer 63 so as to expandit against the inner face-of the limb 12. A rubber sleeve (not shown) may be bonded tothe inner face of the limb 12 at the upper end thereof. a

Figure 11 shows an alternative form of spring latch which is arranged externally instead of internally as in Figures 4 and 5. 2

The upper end of each limb 12 is provided with two spaced lugs 55 carrying a pivot pin 56 .on which is mounted a latch. The latch is provided with a nose 57 4 which is engageable in any of a number of holes 58 formed on the side of the limb 14. The latch is formed with a manipulating lever 59 and a suitable spring 60 is provided for urging the latch into the engaged position.

I claim:

1. An article of furniture having a telescoping leg structure comprising two upwardly extending tubes slidable one within the other, the outer tube being provided with a foot portion and with a number of axially spaced holes, a latch mechanism disposed within the inner tube and comprising a latch support frictionally engaging the inner tube, a rigid lever arm pivotally mounted on said support, a latch fixed to one end of said lever adapted to engage one of said holes, and a manipulating member at the other end extending through another hole in the end of the outer tube.

2. An article of furniture according to claim'l wherein said latch is disposed beyond the end of the inner tube.

3. An article of furniture according to claim 1 wherein said latch support comprises resilient members adapted frictionally to engage said inner tube.

4. An article of furniture according to claim 1 wherein said latch support comprises two spring blades between which said lever arm is pivoted and which spring blades are adapted frictionally to engage said inner tube.

5. An article of furniture according to claim 1 wherein said latch support comprises two spring blades between which said lever arm is pivoted, the ends of which blades are bent back upon themselves so as to form resilient loops adapted frictionally to engage said inner tube.

6. An article of furniture according to claim 1 wherein spring means are provided between the inner tube and that end of the lever arm which carries said manipu lating member.

7. An article of furniture according to claim 1 wherein said lever arm comprises a length of flat strip metal, one end of which is twisted and said manipulating member comprises a press button secured to the end.

8. An article of furniture having two pairs of upward 1y extending telescoping tubesas claimed in claim 1, which two tubes are bent at the upper ends to provide horizontal extensions, a table top secured to said exten sions and in which the holes through which the manipulating member extends are disposed in the upright parts of said tubes adjacent said bends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 934,419 France Mar. 11, 1948 

